Placement pulse
"This job was the right fit"
Chetna Keer Banerjee

Ashish Sahi, a final year student of the UBS (University Business School), Panjab University, who has been selected by Esys, an IT products company, for its international operations, at a package of $ 48,000 p.a., shares his experience of the placement process. Excerpts from an interview:

"I got selected on Day Zero and was interviewed by two top people from the company. In fact, they took me by surprise when they took me for a walk on the campus before a formal interview.

"As they walked the talk, they asked a couple of questions regarding my personal habits, soft skills, academic background, etc. I was careful not to get too informal with them.

"In the formal interview, I was asked various CV-related queries and also given a case study to gauge my marketing skills.

"Well, there were a couple of queries that were not CV-based. Like, they asked ‘what my biggest recent failure had been’. Or ‘why I hadn’t made it to the IIMs?’

"It was ticklish when I was asked to name fellow students who’d be suitable for the post.

"My first aim was to convince them that I was the right fit for the job, which I managed to do. Then, instead of naming some peers and leaving out others, I told them they could pick anyone, all were well-suited.

"Having specialized in International Business, I was clear I wanted to apply for a job in the international market. I gathered information about this company from seniors and other sources since it could provide me the kind of opening I was looking for.

"Six months before the placements were to start, I started brushing up my GK.

"Candidates should be absolutely clear about their objectives, strengths and weaknesses. It is best not to act too informal with the interviewers.

"Besides, have a positive body language and go with an open mind."

Natasha Singh (22),an MBA student of Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, has been picked up by Laurent and Benon, a management consultancy firm, at a package of over Rs 20,000 per month. “The offer is beyond my imagination. I had thought I’d get a job of Rs 10,000-15,000. I’m glad I have got a good job in Chandigarh itself,” she says.	Hardit Singh Bedi, a B.Com final year student of SGGS College, Sector 26, has been selected by EXL Services Pvt. Ltd for a package of Rs.1.35 lakh per annum. He plans to explore other offers before he joins. “Even though EXL is one of the largest call centres, I am looking for something better. This is just the beginning. Many other companies are going to be here in the coming days,” he adds.
Dheeraj, a BCA-III student of SD College, Sector 32, says, “I am thrilled with my job. About a few years ago, a BCA student used to go jobless. Now, we get good offers while still in the last year of the course.”	Gaurav Prasher, an MBA student of Gian Jyoti Institute of Management Technology, Mohali, has been selected by ICICI Prudential Life Insurance as unit manager. “This is a good break as ICICI is a recognised brand,” he says.